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Friday, 22 November 2024
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Antenna: News in English, 97-01-11Antenna Radio News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: antenna@compulink.grNews in English, 11/01/97TITLES
CYPRUSThe United States and Russia are telling Turkey tolay off Cyprus.Ankara threatened military action against free Cyprus earlier this week, if it goes ahead and procures a Russian land-to-air missile system. Warnings, provocations, and threats of war against Cyprus from Turkey - the latest: a threat to invade Free Cyprus if it buys a Russian land-to-air missile system, to enhance its ability to better detect and deflect an oncoming Turkish attack from the air. But this time it seems that Ankara has gone too far. US State department spokesman Nicholas Burns reminded Turkey that there is such a thing as international law Thursday. "There can be no question that Turkey must respect the rules which are no country and specifically in this case Turkey, should threaten the use of military force against Cyprus. No country, specifically Turkey, should undertake military force against Cyprus". Russia sent its own message to Ankara. Russian ambassador to Cyprus Yiorgi MourAtof told Antenna television Cyprus that Russia's reaction to any Turkish move against the island will be harsh. "We'll protect our relations with the Cypriot republic, and defend our right to develop relations to our mutual benefit. The statements from US and Russia were welcome in Greece, even if Athens thought them belated, coming after several days of truculent talk from Turkey over the defensive weapons agreement. Prime minister Kostas Simitis says the American and Russian posture vindicates his policy of keeping a cool head in the face of Turkey's provocations, and insisting that Ankara obey the tenets of international law. On Wednesday, Mr Simitis had spelled out his policy: Greece would be playing into Turkey's hands if it overreacted every time Ankara made a provocative move, he said at a press conference. "We would be dragged into a climate of crisis", he explained, "while in fact our strength lies in our equanimity and insistence that international law and treaties be adhered to". It's the same policy Mr Simitis followed last year, when Turkey staged a military landing on the Greek rocks of Imia. Then, too, the international community accepted that Turkey was out of bounds. Deputy defence minister Giorgos Papandreou was also pleased with the American reaction to Turkey's provocative posturing. He said it's a clear message to Turkey that it must act in accordance with international law, and respect its neighbours and Greek borders. Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras agreed that the state department message was positive. He added that what all Greeks must do, is stand united. CILLER/TURKISH PRESSDespite the American and Russian dressing down, Turkish foreign minister Tansu Ciller renewed the threat to attack Cyprus.She repeated that if the Russian missile system is deployed on the island, her country might well launch a military strike. Brushing aside the clear warning from Washington to watch its step, Turkish foreign minister Tansu Ciller repeated the brazen threat to shed more blood in Cyprus. Ciller said Turkey cannot remain indifferent to what she termed the Greek- Cypriots' aggressive policies. And, referring to Turkey's bloody 1974 invasions of the island, she said that the Greek- Cypriots' policies had brought them nothing but tears and pain in the past, and cost them heavily. If Cyprus deploys the land-to-air missile system, which could be in place next year, then Turkey will intervene, she threatened, and if that means military intervention, then so be it. It is precisely the memory of 1974 and Turkey's threats of renewed terror that make the Cypriot Republic feel it is important to have an adequate air shield against Ankara. Greece understands Cyprus - it also feels the threat. There were 20 violations of Greek airspace over the Aegean by Turkish fighters Friday, and a Turkish frigate sailed menacingly off the coast of Rhodes. The Threats abound. Nonetheless, following the US state department's warning to Ankara, some commentators in Turkey are now talking about the need to find diplomatic solutions to the problems in Cyprus. The Friday edition of Milliet, the head of the newspaper's foreign news section says Ankara has understood that it must give up threats of attacking Cyprus, and turn to diplomacy. Journalist Mehmet Ali Birant writes that quote we must fear war. Nonetheless, there is also speculation in the Turkish press about what will happen if the Russian missile sale goes through. The paper Sabak says the Turkish air force could launch a surprise invasion of Cyprus, as it did in 1974, neutralising its missile bases. Or Greece could intervene at the last minute to prevent Cyprus from buying the missile system. A third possibility, says the paper, is that Russia finds another buyer. Finally, Sabak speculates that Turkey might annex northern Cyprus, which it currently holds under military occupation. SKANDALIDESThe leader of the Cypriot socialist party EDEK defended his country's right to purchase the Russian missiles.Meeting with Pasok secretary Kostas Skandalides, Vassos Lyssarides said there's only one thing that could deter Cyprus from making the procurement and deploying the defence system. Turkey would have to agree to Greece's proposal that all of Cyprus be demilitarised, and withrdraw its army from the north. Only then could Cyprus forget about procuring the S-300 missiles, said Lyssarides. AGRICULTUREPrime minister Kostas Simitis isn't promising the nation's farmers anything in the way of specific reforms to raise their standard of living. But he does have plans to make them more competitive in the years ahead.Mr Simitis and other political leaders spoke at the first-ever Agricultural Policy Council meeting. The meeting comes just weeks after farmers around the nation shut off major roads, demanding higher price subsidies and a tax break on fuel. B.BALLThe second round of the European championship got underway Thursday night. Two of the three Greek teams competing in the Euroleague came up with empty hands. Panionios goes up in smoke at home against Teamsystem Bologna, 88- 72. And Panathinaikos gets off on the wrong foot, blowing a ten-point lead in Moscow, and losing to Dynamo, 88- 81.Olympiakos was also up against a team from Moscow Thursday night, but at home. It's smiles all around for the home team, which turns in a spotless performance at both ends of the floor, and whips Chesseka 82-51. Olympiakos jumps out to 30-15 lead, but has to do it all over again, as the Russians climb back to tie it at 33. And do it, it does, using air tight defence and an offence from a ballet...there's plenty of material for the highlights in the second half. Christian Welp leads all scorers on the night, pacing the winners with 19 points. Olympiakos centre Panayiotis Fassoulas does it defensively, contributing 8 of the victors' 14 blocked shots. © ANT1-Radio 1997Antenna Radio News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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